Sixteen members assembled in the car park to the song of chiffchaffs, blackcaps and a willow warbler but had only one thought in mind, a quest for nightingales. So we headed immediately for the hotspots. We heard the first at the top of the zigzag path but characteristically it stayed buried deep in the thickets; the same was true of a lesser whitethroat rattling in adjacent brambles. The next three nightingales were singing around the Fattengates courtyard but only one gave the merest glimpse as it flew between perches. The fifth near Little Hangar proved far more cooperative and and perched fully in the open. The sixth near the Hangar viewpoint remained out of sight as it sang briefly while the seventh showed itself in scrub near the junction down to Jupp’s View. Despite a single species being the centre of attention there was an impressive supporting cast. A garden warbler sang near Fattengates. From the West Mead hide we had the endearing view of six Canada gosling and three tiny lapwing chicks plus a little ringed plover and two avocets on nests. For the few who paused at the Winpenny hide the reward was excellent views of a hobby. The offerings on the North Brooks were typical, plenty of wildfowl including teal and wigeon, another avocet and a few black-tailed godwits. A sedge warbler sang raucously near the Hangar and eventually perched in view. A bonus was a bank vole on a rotting stump in Fattengates. The morning was well spent with a species list of 46.
Author: Tony Cummins
RSPB Otmoor 21 April 2022
Nine members made the long journey to the stunning reserve at Otmoor near Oxford on a bright day cooled by an easterly breeze. The car park was alive with song from a variety of competitors such as chiffchaffs, blackcaps, willow warblers, assertive wrens and a dominant song thrush. Cetti’s warblers shouted from hedgerows along the the access path and gave the odd fleeting glimpse while a whitethroat sang on top of a thicket. Lapwings were swooping and calling over the wet meadows as they defended territories. Curlews burbled occasionally but not one showed itself during the day. The feeders attracted many chaffinches and the odd tit as pheasants foraged beneath. A showy sedge warbler, the first of many, made display flights and posed openly. A passer-by pointed out the distant and barely audible reel of a grasshopper warbler. A short way along the dyke a bittern had been sighted; it was well concealed in rushes and it took numerous efforts before everyone had a glimpse of its head. A swallow flew over, the first of only two seen, and the sole hirundine species of the day. A male marsh harrier glided over the distant reeds while numerous red kites were sighted. Later kestrels and buzzards appeared but sadly no hobby. The hedges by the hide held a few passerines, reed buntings, goldfinches, a single yellowhammer and later linnets. The hide itself gave access to distant views of a pair of common cranes feeding in reeds but regularly raising their heads. Further along the causeway two oystercatchers could be seen to add to a couple of redshanks seen earlier. A barnacle goose was observed with a scattering of ducks, shovelers, teal, wigeon, shelduck, gadwall, mallard and tufted ducks. For about half the group a pair of garganey represented a stellar sighting before they characteristically disappeared from view. From the viewpoints over the reedbeds many more ducks were seen but pochard were the only new species. Two common terns were also sighted and the sound of a bittern booming was heard. On the return walk some further time spent at the feeders was rewarded by views of a greater spotted woodpecker and the continuous rattle of a lesser whitethroat that declined to reveal itself to most. Mammal sightings included some roe deer and a muntjac. An enjoyable day’s walk produced a species list of 57 birds identified.
Papercourt 14 April 2022
A beautiful spring morning attracted eighteen members to the Newark Priory car park to the sound of the first of a dozen chiffchaffs that we were to encounter. The meadow opposite held numerous jackdaws and woodpigeons, a few greylag geese and a cock pheasant. The lake gave our first view of blackcaps both male and female and their song stayed with us through the morning. The water was quiet apart from numerous coots, a few swans and two great crested grebes though we were later to find small numbers of mallards, tufted ducks, Canada geese and black-headed gulls. We proceeded clockwise around the lake hearing many vocal wrens, robins and great tits and eventually the song of skylarks. A great spotted woodpecker engaged our interest for a time and we then started noticing orange-tip and speckled wood butterflies. The hidden pool was quiet apart from a single, beautifully plumaged little grebe. Leaving the lake we headed for Papercourt Farm accompanied by the yaffle of a green woodpecker. There were a few stock doves on the farm and a kestrel perched in view. Past the lock we ventured onto the edge of the water meadows and were rewarded by excellent views of reed buntings and linnets. After careful scanning a sedge warbler was picked out atop a bramble but patience was required before a whitethroat finally showed it self. The return walk along the river was similarly fruitful. Another sedge warbler was heard singing before perching in view while a whitethroat appeared next to it. Then unusually a handsome Cetti’s warbler joined them while a stonechat completed the quartet. Final sightings of a mistle thrush and a grey heron were the icing on the cake. It was a most enjoyable morning with an excellent list that totalled 48 species.
Tices Meadow 20 March 2022
Twelve members joined Sean on a sunny morning for a walk to Tice’s Meadow. Two mistle thrushes foraging on the playing fields got us off to a good start, followed by the first of several chiffchaffs and two song thrushes in the trees. Sean reported that Tongham Pond held little of interest & that the path was very muddy, so we headed straight to Tice’s Meadow. A lucky few in front saw a pair of bullfinches. The workings held the usual range of waterbirds – great crested grebes, shoveler, teal, gadwall, tufted ducks, cormorants, black-headed & herring gulls and lots of coots & Canada geese. A pair of little grebes was on the “Bat” Pond. The “escaped” male goldeneye was still present , a little egret flew over and we heard Cetti’s warbler, only recorded on the site for the first time this year. Sadly there was no sign of the little ringed plover reported earlier in the week and we were too early for any sand martins. Various raptors were seen, but all flying very high up. Goldfinches were the most numerous species on the feeders, although a male greenfinch was also seen. Just before we got back to the car park, Sean spotted a small flock of redwings in an adjacent park and a nuthatch in an oak. An enjoyable morning with 47 species counted.
Oare Marshes 26 March 2022
Eight members assembled at the reserve on the edge of the Swale on a beautiful Spring morning to the explosive sound of the first of several Cetti’s warblers. The priority was exploration of the West Flood from the sea wall where three garganeys had been reported. The sleeping drake was difficult to spot but when awake offered good views as it walked, swam and finally flew; a female too was briefly see, an excellent start to the day. Other birds on the lagoons included shovelers, gadwall and mallards with curlews, black-tailed godwits and a ruff also allowing distant views. Many skylarks, Mediterranean gulls and a water rail were heard. Back towards the car park there was a variety of waders on the mud, initially redshanks and a few oystercatchers, while a red kite drifted over. A couple of bearded tits appeared briefly in the reedbeds and further along were Brent geese, turnstones and avocets. Off Sheppey several seals basked on the mudbanks. On the reserve reed buntings, a wren, meadow pipits and more bearded tits were spotted while the East Flood held new species including, shelducks, pochards and little grebes. The godwit flock held several individuals already showing their scarlet summer plumage. Two marsh harriers displayed and considerately flushed a snipe into view. Other raptors comprised a hovering kestrel and a drifting buzzard. The species list for the walk totalled 49.
Isle of Sheppey 13 March 2022
Five members braved the wind and poor forecast to assemble on the seawall at Leysdown. With the tide at its height there was little to see offshore apart from a great crested grebe but a green woodpecker provided entertainment in the thickets. From the Shellness car park a large flock of Brent geese could be seen feeding on the marshes while skylarks ascended in full voice and numerous meadow pipits flitted around. A couple of red-legged partridges flushed. At the shoreline there was a scattering of waders, initially redshanks, dunlins and turnstones but then numerous oystercatchers. From the shelter of the blockhouse a couple of curlews and a handful of ringed plovers could be seen and then a pristine male marsh harrier was spotted chasing a passerine. The sea remained quiet with a possible diver briefly seen but not identified. The next venue was the central beach in Leysdown where the waders at the waters edge included a dozen sanderlings. Following a search of the beach the target was seen; seven shore larks that had spent the winter locally were foraging on grassy scrub no more than twenty yards distant allowing cracking views. The next destination was the Harty Ferry raptor point. From the roadside waterfowl were observed including mallards, coots, gadwall, shovelers, pochards, mute swans and greylag geese. About forty common gulls roosted on the bank and two snipe flew briefly into view. Further along the road a dozen corn bunting could be seen at close quarters while at the raptor point the rain had closed in limiting final sightings to a large flock of stock doves spread over a ploughed field and a Cetti’s warbler in reeds. Despite the premature end of the walk the species list for the day reached 42.
Warnham LNR 5 March 2022
Over twenty members spent the morning on this wetland/woodland reserve in a chilling northerly but on a mercifully dry day that forestalled worries about the cancellation of a third successive walk. There was considerable admiration for both the bijou visitor centre and the spacious observatory, both newly built. The lake held small numbers of water birds, mallards, tufted ducks, mute swans, three pochards, two great crested grebes that gave a dancing display, coots and moorhens and black-headed, lesser black-backed and herring gulls. Five cormorants were perched in a tree behind, showing signs of breeding plumage. At the Bullfinch Hide there were good numbers of passerines around the feeders including blue and great tits, chaffinches, goldfinches, a male reed bunting and a few siskins. The Woodpecker Hide was even more impressive. In two visits the group picked up three more species of tit, long-tailed, coal and marsh and a great spotted woodpecker. There were several more siskins and a couple of lesser redpoll while two bullfinches put in an appearance for a few of the group. Perhaps though the stars were a pair of bramblings that foraged at the base of the feeders. Pickings in the marshy and wooded areas were not as rich. The odd grey heron appeared but there were no signs of occupation of the heronry. A few redwings were topped around the treetops, several wrens were perched high engaging in singing duels and a treecreeper was briefly seen. Back at the entrance pond final sightings were of a grey wagtail and a pied wagtail. It was a morning well spent with a list totalling 45 species.
Burton Mill 10 February 2022
Mixed woodland habitats on this walk of nine attendees held a good range of birds, as did Chingford Pond. Burton Mill Pond and the heathland were less productive. Marsh Tits are uncommon and red-listed so it was a treat to see one feeding energetically on a nearby Alder for several minutes. Other birds seen or heard in the woods included Redwings, Siskins, several singing Song Thrushes, Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Goldcrests, Chaffinches, a Greenfinch, a Treecreeper, a Green Woodpecker (seen and heard) and lots of Robins. A ‘first’ for most of the group was three Great-Spotted Woodpeckers flying together from tree-to-tree. Two Ravens passed overhead: silently at first but with one short loud ‘croak’ confirmed the ID. Chingford Pond (in the far south west corner of the walk) had large flocks of Tufted Ducks and Coots. A surprise for all was the Great White Egret (now Great Egret) perched in a pond-side tree alongside a Grey Heron. It appeared to be gathering nesting material rather than focusing on fish or insects. Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebes, Pochards, Shovelers and Gadwall were among other birds on the pond with two Egyptian Geese in the woods. Eight small herons, gathered near cattle, proved (perhaps disappointingly) to be Little Egrets. A Red Kite, always enjoyable to see, and a Buzzard were the only raptor. About 45 species were identified over the morning.
Farlington Marshes 23 January 2022
On a gloomy morning around thirty members assembled in the car park and because of the number split into two groups that circled the reserve in opposite directions. As the tide was low waders were spread thinly across the harbour mud. Small numbers of curlews, redshank, ringed and grey plover were noted while distantly in the far channel a pair of red-breasted mergansers and the first of many pintails and shelduck could be identified. An early highlight was provided by a peregrine that settled on the mud allowing good views. The main lake held numerous Brent geese, lapwings, black-tailed godwits and a dozen avocets while a single roosting snipe was almost invisible in the reeds. Two bearded tits were also seen skulking at the bottom of the reeds but offered only intermittent views. The early part of the circuit produced a spectacular moment as a sparrowhawk sped across the marsh clutching an unfortunate starling. A couple of stonechats posed on the vegetation but it was not until the approach to the Deeps that more significant numbers of passerines were found including a few greenfinches and goldfinches accompanied by a small flock of linnets. On the harbour the rising tide was bringing waders closer to the shore particularly hundreds of dunlins strung out along the shoreline where a few turnstones could also be seen. In the channel several more red-breasted mergansers appeared in the company of great crested grebes, both species repeatedly diving to enjoy the bounty the tide was bringing within reach. The Deeps were rather quiet holding a few shovelers while the fields behind were being grazed by numerous wigeon, Canada geese and many more Brent geese. Interspersed among them were more curlews and black-tailed godwits. A long-staying barnacle goose was seen in the meadow close to a farmyard goose with which it reportedly has a committed relationship! The area by the information hut held few birds but provided new sightings with three little grebes, a wren, a kingfisher and a Cetti’s warbler while on the walk back across the marsh two common gulls were seen. The return visit to the main lake was rewarded by much larger numbers of species embarking on their high tide roost included three greenshanks and a more viewable snipe as well as many more redshanks and avocets. A successful day produced a species list of 53.
Horsell Common 13 January 2022
Thirteen members gathered at the Heather Farm Centre on a bright but icy morning. Starting at the reedbed we noted mallards, moorhens and a mute swan when suddenly a kingfisher perched briefly in the reeds and then darted towards us giving very unexpected but superb views. A couple of redwings were seen as we headed to the pig farm where numerous woodpigeons browsed on the frozen ground. The next surprise came as we saw three ravens flying in front of us, a very unusual species at the location. Around us many passerines were singing especially robins, blue tits, great tits, a chaffinch and finally in dulcet tones a mistle thrush. One of the meadows by the Bourne held a flock of greylag geese. By the bridge to the Island a common gull flew away but the meadows there were quiet. Along the north path larger flocks of greylag and Canada geese were feeding on the farmland and we heard for the first time the call of a green woodpecker, a bird that proceeded to stalk us for the rest of the morning. We crossed McLarens meadows via the hill and flushed two meadow pipits but noted little apart from corvids and black-headed gulls. We then entered the heath from the northeast corner and began scanning for Dartford warblers; initially some individuals were able to catch glimpses of this elusive target but by the end of the walk we had seen at least nine, everyone enjoying fine views of birds perching in the warming sun. Other good sightings included a great spotted woodpecker in brilliant light at the top of a conifer and stonechats in the gorse; late additions of nuthatches and a treecreeper finalised a high quality species list at an impressive total of forty.